Air cleaner



Feb. 10, 1931. Q c, MANCHESTER 1,791,732

AIR CLEANER I Filed Feb. 18. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. filyde CManc/zesigr ATToRNEY 1931- v c. MANCHESTER 1,791,732

AIR CLEANER Filed Feb. 18, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIL-CHI- 11v VEN TOR. Clyde CManclzeser A T TORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLYDE C. MANCHESTER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE TILLOTSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AIR CLEANER Application filed February 18, 1920. Serial No. 359,734.

This invention relates to air cleaners, and has reference particularly to the cleaning of the air going to the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, as for instance upon a tractor, although it should be understood that the device is not limited to such use, but may be employed for other widely different purposes.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a cleaner which shall be highly eflicient and at the same time inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of a relatively large and easily removable dust 'box.

Still another object of the invention is the combination with a centrifugal dust separating chamber, in which nearly all of the dust is extracted, of an air strainer for removing the small amount of dust still remaining in the air after it leaves the separating chamber.

Other objects will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention, which for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanylng drawings, in which Figure I is a central transverse sectional view of the cleaner without the strainer. Fig. II is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11, Fig. I. Fig. III is a side elevation of the cleaner, with the strainer and its co-related parts in vertical section, to more clearly illustratethe invention.

Fig. IV is a transverse sectional view throughthe ofitake connection, showing the strainer and one of the Woven wire grids for deadening vibration in the strainer, the section being taken substantially on line IV IV, Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the views.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the ofltake pipe for conductingthe clean air to its place of use as for instance to the carbureter of an internal combustion engine. This pipe 10 extends axially through one end wall 11 of the separating chamber of the cleaner, and is secured by any suitable means, as for instance by solder, to the opposite end wall, which preferably has a slight inward depression 12 of a size to fit inside the pipe, thereby assisting in the assembling of the parts. The ends of the separating chamber are connected by a body member 13, consisting of a rectangular sheet of metal rolled into a drum with sides overlapped on the upper portion of the chamber, so that in cross section the wall of the bodymember is substantially helical, forming a long curved air entrance passage 14. The pipe 10 within the separting cham ber is provided with openings 15 in that half of its upper side which is furtherest along in respect to the path of the air in the chamber.

, These openings may be of different shape and sizes and differently arranged with respect to each other, but they should extend for substantially the entire length of the separating chamber and their aggregate area should be at least equivalent to the cross sectional area of the pipe 10. i

it the bottom the separating chamber has an opening or openings for the escape of dust. Preferably I employ but one long slot 16 extending t roughout substantially the entire length of the separating chamber. In width this slot extends to the bottom center line only. Beyond the center line the wall 13 has openings 17 for the escape of air back into the separating chamber, as will be hereinafter explained.

Below the openings 16 and 17 is mounted a dust box 18, which may be roughly described as trough shaped. The side walls,-

however, are curved inwardly near the top and then flare outwardly. As the dust box is made of flexible material the upper side edges possess more or less springiness, which fact assists in seating the dust box onto the separating chamber with substantially an air tight connection. The dust box is divided into a series of compartments by means of transverse partitions 19, which prevent the too great accumulation of dust at either end of the box. The latter is held in position by a bail-shaped fastener 20, the ends of which swing on headed pivots 21, mounted in the fastener 20 may have an upwardlycurved portion 22 for engagement with the bottom of the box, if desired.

In Figs. III and IV, I have shown an air cleaner positioned in an ofltake connection.

This may be employed where'a very high de-,

gree of cleaning is desirable. When the strainer is employed, the ofltake pipe 10 is permitted to extend out from the end wall 11 a short distance only, that is just far enough to provide a bearing for a flanged opening in an end plate 23 of the ofltake connection. A similarly shaped plate 24 having a central opening with an axially extending collar 25 is arranged opposite the plate 23, the two plates being connected together by means of screws 26 extending through flanges at their peripheries. Between the flanges is mounted a circular piece of fabric 27, constituting the screen or strainer. The latter may be prevented from vibrating to any great extent in response to the pulsations of an engine suction, for instance, by means of woven wire grids 28 and 29 mounted in the end plates 23 and 24 respectively. The particular shape of this ofitake connection and of the strainer itself are immaterial so long as the strainer completely separates the space at one end of the connection from the space at the other end. The area of the strainer 27 must be great in comparison with the cross sectional area of the ofitake pipe 10 in order that it may not materially interfere with the passage of air.

The use of a strainer alone is objectionable in dusty localities because of the fact that the pores of the cloth, if fine enough to prevent the passage of dust therethrough, become so clogged after a period of operation that the passage of air is slowed up or the suction required to draw it through the strainer is increased. This objection does not obtain, however, in the case of my invention, for the reason that the greater part of the dirt, in many cases as much as ninety per cent, is removed before the air gets to the strainer, and hence the device may be oporated for a considerable length of time before any cleaning of the strainer is necessary.

The theory of operation in so far as I now understand it, is as follows. Suction being applied to the ofitake pipe 10, or to the collar 25 as the case may be, air enters the separating chamber through the long curved passage 14 extending from one end of the chamber to the other. It is thereby given a rapid rotational motion causing the dust particles, which are heavy in comparison with the air, to move outwardly because of centrifugal force. The dust therefore collects along the wall 13, and when it gets to the slot 16 moves outwardly and downwardly into the dust box 18. Centrifugal action is principally responsible forthe separation and collection of the dust in the box 18 but is assisted somewhat by gravity. A small portion of the air finds its way through slot 16 together with the dust. This air moving at a tangent when it leaves the inner edge of the box, strikes against the far wall of the dust box 18, and is thereby deflected downwardly in a curved path. The air thereby assumes a comparatively slow whirling motion upon a horizontal axis, freeing itself from the dust, which settles in the bottom of the box, the air gradually moving upwardly and out through the holes 17 into the separating chamber where it mingles with the rapidly whirling air in the separating chamber, and moves upwardly around pipe 10. At least the greater portion of the air being cleaned by the single revolution in the separating chamber, then moves toward the center and out through the holes 15 of pipe 10. It is probable that some of the air, particularly that which still contains dust and is therefore heavier, has sufficient rotational impetus to carry it past the holes 15, after which it mingles with the air just entering from the passage 14 and'makes another complete revoluti on.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, above described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof, and therefore I desire to claim my invention broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an air cleaner, a separating chamber substantially helical in cross section'with its axis horizontal, whereby spaced overlapping walls are provided upon the upper side of the chamber, an air offtake pipe extending axially from one end wall to the opposite end wall, said pipe having perforations therethrough within the chamber, and said chamher having a dust exit opening along the lower portion thereof.

2. In an air cleaner, a separating chamber substantially helical in cross section with its axis horizontal, whereby spaced overlapping walls are provided upon the upper side of the chamber, an air oiitake pipe extending axially from one end wall through the opposite end wall, said pipe having perforations therethrough on its upper side within the chamber,

and said chamber having a dust exit open-- ing along the lower portion thereof.

3. In an air cleaner, a separating chamber substantially helical in cross section with its axis horizontal. whereby spaced overlapping walls are provided upon the .upper side of the chamber, an air ofltake pipe extending axially from one end through the opposite end wall, said pipe having perforations there through in that half of its upper side which is furthest along in respect to the path of the rotating air, said chamber having a dust exit opening along the lower portion thereof.

4, In an air cleaner, a separating chamber shaped approximately like an elongated drum with its axis horizontal, said chamber having a dust exit opening substantially at the bottom thereof, a trough shaped dust box with outwardly flaring side walls adapted to be pressed tightly against said chamber around said opening, and a bail shaped supporting member pivoted at its ends to the ends of said chamber, and adapted to be swung into contact with the lower portion of said box to support the latter.

5. In an air cleaner, a separating chamber,

, an ofitake pipe leading therefrom, said chamber having an air inlet passage arranged to cause the air to partake of awhirling motion about a horizontal axis, a dust box of the same length as the separating chamber supported below the latter, the lower wall of said chamber having an elongated dust exit opening therethrough connecting the separating chamber with the interior of the dust box on the side of thelatter which is first reached by the air whirl, said lower wall having relatively small openings connecting the separating chamber with the opposite side of the dust box for permitting the escape of air entering the dust box through said first mentioned opening.

- 6. In an air cleaner, a separatingchamber,

an air ofl'take'pipe leading therefrom, said chamber having an air inlet passage arranged to cause the air to partake of a whirling motion about a horizontal axis, a dust box of the same length as the separating chamber and supported below the latter, the lower wall of said chamber having an elongated dust exit 9. In a gas cleaner, the combination of a cylindrical casing having side and end walls, and an inlet side wall opening; means for causing rotation of gases subsequent to entry of said inlet opening; and an outlet pipe centrally and axially positioned in said casing and extending approximately the entire axial length of the casing. said outlet pipe having lateral apertures the total sec tional area of which approximate in value the area of the outlet pipe.

10. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing member adapted to be positioned with its axis horizontal and having its ends closed, an air inlet arranged tangentially with relation to the cylinder wall, a dust discharge passage at the lower portion of the cylinder wall, and an air outlet pipe extending through one of the end walls of the cylinder, said outlet pipe extending across the cylinder and having a portion'of its wall removed toward the side of the cylindrical casing through which said air inlet passes. I

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature.

CLYDE C. MANCHESTER.

opening'therethrough connectin the separat- 1ng chamber with the interior 0 the dust box on the side of the latter which is first reached by the air whirl, said lower wall having relatively small openings therethrough connecting the separating chamber with the opposite side of the dust box, the wall of. the latter side of the dust box being curved from the bottom outwardly and upwardly, and then inwardly and upwardly to the position where the dust strikes when it is thrown off tangent from said whirl through said first mentioned opening.

7. In a gas cleaner, the'combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings; and a trough shaped receptacle secured to the casing, said receptacle'having side walls inwardly and outwardly bent to form inner projecting longitudinal ribs;

a gas cleaner, the combination of. a

' cylindrical casing having side and end walls,

and an inlet side wall opening; means for causing rotation of gases subsequent to entry of said inlet opening; and an outlet pipe cen trally and axially positioned in said casing and extending approximately the entire axial length of the casing, said pipe having a plurality of distributed apertures on one side thereof. i 

